Metro News & Reviews

This Weekend: Bus shuttles replace Blue Line between Willowbrook-Del Amo due to upgrade work

Upgrade work on the Metro Blue Line continues at Compton Station this weekend, where crews will make improvements for two more weeks. As with the other stations, Compton will receive new canopies, paint, tile and audio/visual enhancements.

The following service changes will be in affect this weekend on the Metro Blue Line as upgrade work occurs. Friday, Mar. 20 after 9 p.m. through Sunday, Mar. 22 close of service, bus shuttles will replace rail service between Willowbrook and Del Amo Station. This means southbound Blue Line trains will return north to 7th Street/Metro Center at Willowbrook, and trains originating in Downtown Long Beach Station will travel only as far north as Del Amo. Customers wishing to travel between Willowbrook and Del Amo Station will need to board Metro bus shuttles (marked as “Blue Line Shuttle”) in order to do so. Please note that owing to the extended distance in bus shuttles, extra time will be required for trips between Willowbrook and Del Amo.

Customers will also want to be aware of the following changes to the Metro Blue and Expo Line schedules this weekend, necessary to accommodate the work at Compton Station.

This Friday after 8 p.m., Metro Blue Line and Expo Lines will run every 15 minutes until close of service.

Saturday, Mar. 21 and Sunday, Mar. 22, the Blue Line will run every 20 minutes, and the Expo Line every 12 minutes, from open to close of service.

Finally, don’t forget that the Metro Green Line is also undergoing rail improvement work this weekend, necessitating closure of four stations and bus shuttles between Aviation/LAX and Redondo Beach starting Friday after 8:30 p.m. For all the details on that, click here.

Looking ahead to next week, the Blue Line will run every 10 minutes between 7th Street/Metro Center and Willowbrook and every 20 minutes between Willowbrook and Long Beach after 8:30 p.m. as work continues at Compton Station. During this time, trains in both directions will board on the same track at Compton and Artesia Station.

Many are already aware that adjustments to Blue Line service this year have been, and will continue to be, necessary for the completion of the Blue Line Upgrades project, a $1.2-billion overhaul including station improvements, track replacement/refurbishment, and even, eventually, new rail cars. Some of the upgrades have already been completed at stations between Del Amo and the Long Beach Loop, and will continue to move north along the Blue Line throughout 2015. The estimated wrap-up date for the entire project is sometime this fall.

That being said, Metro recognizes that these service changes can be a nuisance, and would like to say thank you to all affected customers. The end goal to keep in mind is a safer, more reliable, and re-vamped Metro Blue Line for years to come.

Finally, as construction can be a dynamic process, please check back here at The Source, or follow us @metrolosangeles or @metrolaalerts for the latest Blue Line service updates.